Anatoly Zemlyanka, 28, came from 'normal' family in Noyabrsk, and was into Thai boxing and karate.
A video was posted this week showing the supposed 'execution' of 23 year old Russian citizen Magomed Khasiev, from Chechnya, by Islamic extremists in Syria.

He had travelled to the Middle East in support of the Islamic State, although in a 'confession' before his apparent killing he claimed he acted as an informant for the FSB, the Russian secret service. Sources have indicated there is no proof of this claim by a man who had refused to speak to his adoptive mother in Chechnya over his trip to Syria, believing she would disapprove.

Next it was revealed that the Russian-speaking executioner was from Noyabrsk, the largest city in the energy-rich Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Region.

On Friday, the Russian media identified the executioner as Anatoly Zemlyanka, a former Thai Boxing competitor, who had also loved karate while he studied at Tyumen State University in 2004 - 2009.

Friends said that in his fifth year he began to communicate with Muslims and converted to Islam. His mother is believed to be an Orthodox Christian...